My 6 Core Issues on Women, Families, Reproductive Rights and Justice
1. CONSTITUTIONAL/LEGAL EQUALITY FOR WOMEN
I will introduce legislation which calls for the Equal Rights Amendment. Until that amendment is passed and ratified, SCOTUS has shown us that women will not be equal in our country. Passing the Equality Act will solidify that equality as well as provide protection for LGBTQIA2S+ individuals.
(Pictured: Penny Ronning walked and cheered for LGBTQIA2S+ Montanans at the 2022 Montana Pride parade in Helena, Montana.)
2. ECONOMIC JUSTICE
I support equal pay and would have voted yes on the Paycheck Fairness Act to close loopholes in the 1963 Equal Pay Act.
Given the June 2022 SCOTUS decision on abortion, it is vitally important to enact reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers and workers who have a medical condition due to pregnancy or childbirth. Because many of the states now criminalize abortion and make no exceptions to pregnancy due to rape or incest, more women will be working during pregnancy and it is reasonable to believe that more women will suffer negative medical conditions due to forced pregnancy and delivery.
We also need to protect older, non-childbearing women from workplace discrimination. Many women return to the workplace because of the stagnation of social safety nets like Social Security and increasing inflation. Many women are employed as caregivers and other low-paid jobs and need wage increases and benefits in order to survive.
Families are also suffering under the current stalemate in Congress about increasing family and children protections. I support the elements of the Build Back Better legislation dealing with tax credits, child care, paid sick and family leave, health care subsidies and reducing the cost of prescription drugs. I’m particularly passionate about reducing the cost of insulin. And I agree that taxing the wealthy can pay for these benefits!
3. ENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Yes, I support strengthening and increasing the actions in the VAWA. I believe that domestic abuser non-spousal partner loophole for gun ownership is still to be addressed as well as the required mediation with an abuser.
I would seek increased funding for children’s mental health services, reducing family poverty, and ensuring reproductive equality to end systemic based crimes.
I am the co-founder of the Yellowstone County Area Human Trafficking Task Force – the largest human trafficking task force in Montana. We partner with tribal nations, government agencies, and national organizations to address/prevent Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP).
Penny Ronning received a star quilt at a Human Trafficking Task Force training at Fort Peck, in recognition of her service to MMIP.
4. LGBTQIA+ RIGHTS
I support the Equality Act to prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity and certainly support the rights of transgender youth. No organization that discriminates against people based on sexual orientation or gender identify should receive federal funding.
(Watch Penny Ronning speak at the 2022 Montana Pride rally in Helena, MT.)
5. RACIAL JUSTICE
Representation counts and the right to vote is fundamental to democracy. Every American’s vote should count, including residents of the District of Columbia. I will always support legislation to expand automatic and same-day voter registration and to enhance DOJ review of changes to voting regulations. I have been active on policing reform, particularly for domestic violence and support for victim services, most often female and more specifically women of color.
6. REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND JUSTICE
I support reproductive equality for all genders and believe reproductive health should be accessible and equal under the law. Pregnant persons have abortions for different reasons and those decisions are ones to be made by the individual, not the government. I believe Roe v. Wade protects the privacy of those decisions and that privacy must be protected under the law at the federal level. Abortion is healthcare and must be legally and medically accessible in every state.
Given the recent SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe v. Wade I support the Women’s Health Protection Act and the EACH Woman Act.
In addition, I support access to contraception without restrictions by pharmacists and other health care personnel. Abortion services and counseling should be available by telemedicine. Students should receive federally funded comprehensive, medically accurate, and age-appropriate sex education in public schools.
In addition:
Codify reproductive equality with safe and medically accessible access to abortion at the federal level
Support paid family leave
Support child tax credit
Support Title IX